The domino is a small, rectangular block used in various games. They can be made of wood, plastic, or bone. However, their traditional material is ivory or ebony. Many children play with them as toys, but they are also used in a variety of games.
The basic game of dominoes involves two players. Each player has seven tiles drawn from a stock. The goal is to win by removing all of the tiles from your hand without your opponent drawing the same number. Once your opponents’ tiles are removed, the next player must draw a tile that matches the number of pips of the first player’s tiles. This game is referred to as “trick-taking” or “blocking.”
In most domino sets, there are only six pips, although there are some variants that have more. The most common set is the double-six set, with 28 tiles. Some larger sets have a total of 190 or 253 tiles.
Most European-style dominoes are made of dark hardwood, such as ebony. Others are made of mother of pearl oyster shell. These dominoes are usually stacked on the ends in long lines.
Another popular type of domino is the Chinese domino. The domino is divided into two squares, called ends, with each end having a line down the middle. It is possible to build elaborate patterns by placing dominoes edge-to-edge against each other.
To begin, one player chooses a lead piece, and then the second player picks a set of seven pieces to play with. Those seven tiles are then shuffled together. The lead piece has the highest total pip count. If the leading piece is tipped over, the next domino in the line will also tip. When this occurs, the domino will fall and start a chain reaction that can knock down hundreds of others.
Traditionally, a Chinese domino set has no blank faces, and each piece represents one of the 21 results of throwing two six-sided dice. This can be confusing to people unfamiliar with the game.
Other popular types of dominoes include five-up, which is played with multicolored tiles. There is also the concentration version, which uses the double-six set. Players have to have at least 12 pips to win.
Some people play with their friends or family, while other people may use a computer to play. Whether you’re looking to create a fun course or compete against the computer, dominoes are a great toy to have around.
Although the domino has been around for centuries, the word domino is still unclear in its origin. One explanation is that it refers to a crude woodcut on paper, popular among French peasants. Another is that the word was inspired by a mask worn during masquerades.
In the United States, the game is known as “boneyard.” As you might guess, the pieces left behind are the ones that are not used. A popular version is known as Hector’s Rules, which is played predominantly in Singapore.
